Millimeter Wave 70-80-90 GHz Service

On October 16, 2003, the Commission adopted a Report and Order
(modified by Memorandum Opinion and Order (pdf) on reconsideration)
establishing service rules to promote non-Federal Government development and use of the “millimeter wave” spectrum in the 71-76 GHz,
81-86 GHz and 92-95 GHz bands on a shared basis with Federal Government operations. These bands are essentially undeveloped and
available for use in a broad range of new products and services, including high-speed, point-to-point wireless local area networks and
broadband Internet access. Highly directional, “pencil-beam” signal characteristics permit systems in these bands to be engineered in
close proximity to one another without causing interference.

Licensing Process

The Commission will issue an unlimited number of non-exclusive nationwide licenses to non-Federal Government entities for the 12.9 gigahertz of spectrum allocated for commercial use. These licenses will serve as a prerequisite for registering individual point-to-point links. The 71-95 GHz bands are allocated on a shared basis with Federal Government users. Therefore, a licensee will not be authorized to operate a link under its non-exclusive nationwide license until the link is both:

coordinated with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) with respect to Federal Government operations, and